VSP Training Tips: Injury Prevention

Post performance stretching and cool down are critical to help athletes recover quickly and reduce injury risk.

As a performance coach and professional athlete, I’m continually baffled by how many athletes push their bodies to the limits in games lasting up to 60 minutes, but DON’T STRETCH OR COOL DOWN AFTER.

Competition naturally brings about reaction, quick changing direction, forceful slamming of feet into the ground for explosiveness. These movements require the muscles to contract, contract, and contract! As you perform contraction after contraction, your muscles are left in a shortened state. If you continually beat down your muscles, practice after practice, game after game, and don’t stretch… the muscles will start to become a liability to themselves and to the tendons and ligaments supporting during the reactive nature of competition. Studies have shown that 70 percent of ACL tears are non-contact. By implementing consistent dynamic warm-up programs and post-game static stretching programs, we will be able to decrease risk of ACL injury by 50-80 percent.
Most people say, “it’s okay, I’ll stretch later!” Victory Sports Performance will help educate athlete’s as to why that mentality is not in their best interest, and what they should be doing pre and post exercise. To learn more, sign up for a free trial now, click here. Together, we’ll unleash your potential!